

                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Registration Statement of our report dated February 14, 1997
included in Basin Exploration, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1996 and to all references to our Firm included in this
Registration Statement.



                                     Arthur Andersen LLP

Denver, Colorado
September 22, 1997


